Latching mechanism



. Aug. 27, 1957 H. F. GEORGE I 2,803,957

I LATCHING MECHANISM Filed April 9, 1956 V 4 Shets-Sheet 1 7; 1957 H. FJGEORGE 2,803,957

LATCHING MECHANISM Filed April 9,1956 ,4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 27, 1957 H. F. GEORGE 2,803,957

LATCHING MECHANISM Filed April 9-, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ill 7 United StatesPate nt LATCHING MECHANISM Harry F. George, Park Ridge, Ill.

ApplicationApril 9, 1956, Serial No. 576340 12 Claims. (Cl. 70-446) This invention relates to improved latching mechanism for doors, and structures of a similar nature, and is applicable for use in metal and wood doors, and insuch other connections to which it may bead'apted.

The present invention is an improvement over those disclosed in my copending applications Serial- Nos. 446,748, filed. July 30, 11954, and 506,195, filed May 5, 1955,.and Patent 2,764,014 granted to me September 25, 1956..

As' is known, there have been instances of locked doors being opened, by others not having a key, by' inserting a. flat thin piece of metal, Celluloid, cardboard, or other material, between the. door and the frame and moving the latch. bolt to unlatched position- In. thepresent invention I have provided improved. means rendering it impossible to thus unwarrantably open a locked door from the: outside by the use of a piece of thin flat material. It is also important to be able to quickly open a locked door from the: inside in case of emergency, such as fire, or other matters requiring quick exit of occupants of the room. This I have. made possible byspecial means enabling locking the door from either the inside or the. outside, and in case of emergency or panic being able: to open the locked door from the; inside merely by turning the inside knob.

Among the objects of my invention are: to: provide a newand improved latching mechanism; to providea latching mechanism having means to prevent opening a locked door or the like: from. the outside by the use of a thin flat piece of material; toprovide a latching mechanism in which a locked door may be quickly opened from the inside, in case of emergency or panic,.merely by normally turning the inside knob; to provide a latchingmechanism having a main shaft, a lock bar movable for locking the shaft: againstrotation, and means. for moving the lock bar into released position merely by a normal turning movement of the inside knob; to provide a latching mechanism having a novel arrangement of. latch bolt assembly; to provide a latching mechanism having a novel arrangement of parts for manually locking the door from the inside against entry from the outside, and. for quickly unlocking the door merely by turning the. inside. knob; to provide a novel arrangement of parts for locking a door from the inside, and from the outside, and for releasing the locking means; to provide for adjustment of the striker plate; to provide a latching mechanism that is eflicient in operation, of attractive appearance, easy and quick to apply to a door, and is of reliable and compact construction; and such further objects, advantages and capabilities, inherently possessed by my invention, as will later more fully appear.

My invention further resides in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and while I have shown therein preferred embodiments I wish it understood that the same are susceptible of modification andchangewithout depart ing from the spirit of the invention.

111. they drawings:

Fig. 1 is a horizontal top plan view of a latching mechaice " nism embodying my invention, and showing it applied to a fragmentary portion of a door or the like.

Fig. 2 is a vertical edge elevation looking up toward.

the bottom side of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, with parts being shown in elevation for the sake of clearness.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line 44 of Fig. 1, withparts shown in elevation, and showing the lock bar in locking position.

Fig. 5' is a vertical side elevation of a fragmentary portion of a door with my invention applied thereto, and looking toward the inner knob.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section on the zigzag line 6-6 of Fig. 3, but showing the latch bolt and associated parts in elevation.

Fig. 7 is a transverse vertical section on the offset line 7--7 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a transverse vertical section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 4, parts being shown in elevation for clearness.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 6, but showing the lock bar operating shaft as having been turned a partial revolu tion to lock the latch bolt operating plate against being moved rearwardly by a flat thin piece of material applied between the door and the frame.

Fig. 10 is a detail top plan view of the tubular main shaft.

Fig. 11 is a detail side elevation of the tubular main shaft, looking toward the bottom side of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a detail side elevation of the lock bar operating shaft.

Fig. 13 is a view looking upwardly toward the bottom of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a detail vertical side view of the lock bar.

Fig. 15 is a View looking toward the right hand side of Fig; 14'.

Fig. 16' is a View similar to Fig. 15, but showing a modification.

Fig. 17 is a side elevation of a striker plate.

While my improved latching mechanism is shown herein as applied to a metal door, I wish it understood that it may be applied to a wooden door, and in any other connection to which it is adapted for latching and locking a movable part with relation to a stationary part.

In the form shown, my improved latching mechanism includes a tubular main shaft I, inserted rotatably through suitable al'ined openings in a door 2, and having fixed on its: outer end an outer knob 3', and mounted on its inner end, for limited rotative movement thereon, an inner knob 4. The outer knob 3 is fixed to rotate with the main shaft 1 by means of a pin 5, and at its inner end portion is reduced in diameter at 6' to be rotatably mounted in the escutcheon '7 which in turn is stationarily fixed to the outer face of the door by a pair of integral pins 8 and 9 respectively passing through alined' openings in the inner and outer face members of the door. An anchor plate 10 is fixedly mounted on the inner face of the door by means of a mind cap screws 11 and 12 screwed into threaded openings in the adjacent ends of the pins 8 and 9, as will be: understood in Fig. 3. Anchor plate 10 has integrally bent therefrom a pair of circularly curved flanges 13 and 14, see Figs. 3 and 8, snugly receiving the adjacent portion of the main shaft 1 to permit the rotation of the main: shaft therein. These curved flanges 13 and 14 are spaced apart at their bottom ends to form a locking opening 15 to receive the lock bar 16, as will be understood more fully hereinafter, see Figs. 3, 4 and 8. As will be understood, tightening of the cap screws 11 and 12 will rigidly secure the anchor plate 19 against the inner face of the door, and' thee scutclieon 7 against the outer face of the door.

Referring to Figs. 3, 4, l0 and 11, the main shaft .1

3 is formed with a longitudinally extending bore 17 within the outer end of which is fixed a locking member 18 having a lock cylinder of the tumbler type operated by a key 19. Tumbler lock 18 is of the conventional type in which the key may be removed from the lock cylinder either in the neutral vertical position or from an advanced position after the key has been turned. The tubular main shaft 1, intermediate of its length, has a portion cut away at 20, see Fig. 10, to remove one half of the shaft for a short portion of its length, the remaining half 21 being covered on its outer face with a curved steel plate 22 for wearing purposes. The ends of wear plate 22 are bent inwardly over the edges of said remaining half 21 of the main shaft, see Fig. 9, to form a pair of diametrically opposite roll-back noses 23 and 24 for moving a latch bolt plate upon rotation of the main shaft, as later more fully explained. As seen in Figs. 9 and 10, the bore 17 in the main shaft extends a short distance beyond the cut-away portion 20, which forms saidrremaining half 21 on its interior with a semicircular opening 25. At its inner end said bore 17 of the main shaft opens into a radially extending opening 26 within which the lock bar 16 is slidably mounted.

The lock cylinder of tumbler lock 18 is provided with an inwardly extending eccentric pin 27, which seats into an opening 28 eccentrically formed in the adjacent end of the locking shaft 29 rotatably mounted in bore 17 of main shaft 1.. Locking shaft 29 has fixedly mounted upon its innermost end an eccentric pin 30 which extends into the notch or opening 31 formed in the adjacent face or edge of the lock bar 16. so that rotation of the looking shaft 29 will cause radial movement of the lock bar 16 with relation to the main shaft 1. It is thus seen that rotation of the key 19 in the tumbler lock 18 will cause rotation of locking shaft 29 and movement of the lock bar 16 into and out of locking engagement in the opening or space 15 between the stationary flanges 13 and 14.

Secured to the free edge face of the door by screws or the like 32 is a plate 33 having an opening through which is slidably mounted a latch bolt 34 having the usual inclined face adapted to wipe over a strike plate as the door is being closed. Secured behind the plate 33 are end flanges 35 of an inwardly extending cage 36 having integral top and bottom plates 37 and 38 and an inner end plate 39 to the latter of which is integrally connected, one on each side, a pair of inwardly extended vertical side anchor flanges 40 and 41 each having a hole through which extends the escutcheon pin 9 to further support the cage firmly in position. Each of the top and bottom plates 37 and 38, on each side, has a vertical flange 42, these flanges extending partway down and up the sides of the cage to form guides within which the latch bolt 34 slides as it moves inwardly and outwardly during its operation. For normally urging the latch bolt 34 to its outermost position, a pair of coil springs 43 are positioned within the cage, each hearing at its inner end over a positioning pin against the end plate 39 and hearing at its outer end against the latch bolt within a cavity provided therefor, as will be understood in Figs. 6 and 9.

Fixed to one side face of the latch bolt inside of the plate 33, by a screw bolt 44 at a point to extend through the space between the free edges of thetwo vertical flanges 42 on that side of the cage, is a flat latch bolt plate 45 so fixed with relation to the latch bolt as to be flat against the adjacent two vertical flanges 42 and the inner vertical anchor flange 40, but be slidable longitudinally with relation thereto. Latch bolt plate 45 is somewhat wider than the height of the cage 36, and is formed with a specially shaped opening 46 having at its right hand end, as viewed in Figs. 6 and 9, a width slightly greater than the diameter of escutcheon pin 9 and extending a substantial distance to the right thereof when the latch bolt is fully projected. This is so that the latch bolt plate 45 will have the necessary freedom of movement with relation to the pin 9 as the latch bolt 34 is up erated. Said opening 46, when the latch bolt is fully projected, expands in width from pin 9 to the left, as viewed in Figs. 6 and 9, so as to clear the extreme edges of the two roll-back noses 23 and 24 when in the position shown in Figs. 6 and 9, at which point the main portion of opening 46 is interrupted to form two shoulders 47 and 48 adapted to bear against said roll-back noses 23 and 24 when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 9. Said shoulders 47 and 48 each extends inwardly a short distance beyond the inner edge of its rollback nose from whence said opening 46 flares outwardly on both sides to form two oppositely disposed outwardly inclined latch-lock-shoulders 49 and 50. The outer ends of said shoulders 49 and 50 are joined by a circularly curved edge 51 forming a curved space for the swinging reception of a portion of the locking shaft 29, as later more fully explained.

From the above it is seen that the opening 46 is of a shape to permit a longitudinal movement of the latch bolt plate 45 and the latch bolt 34, the inner end of plate 45 having a notch 52 to give a greater length of movement of plate 45 with relation to the escutcheon pin 8. This enables movement of the latch bolt to both latched and unlatched positions by operations later described.

As seen in Figs. 12 and 13, the locking shaft 29 is formed on two of its sides with notches 53 and 54 of equal size so as to form a reduced centrally located web 55 having slightly inclined sides forming one edge of the web somewhat thicker than the other, as will be understood in Figs. 6 and 9. The central radial width of this web is the same as the diameter of the locking shaft 29 and the ends of notches 53 and 54 coincide with the respective ends of the cut-away portion 20 of the main shaft 1. As seen in Figs. 3, 6 and 9, when the parts are in assembled position, the latch bolt plate 45 extends at right angles to the main shaft in a plane between the ends of the cut-away portion 20, with the roll-back half 21 of the main shaft 1 extending through the opening 46 of the latch bolt plate 45, with the roll-back noses 23 and 24 being in contact with the two shoulders 47 and 48 of the latch bolt plate 45 when the latch bolt 34 is in its most projected position. This positions the lock ing shaft web 55 within the semicircular opening 25 of the main shaft 1 and the opening defined by the inclined shoulders 49 and 50 and the circular edge 51 of the latch bolt plate 45, within which space the web 55 may swing to bring its thinner edge into contact with one of said inclined shoulders 49 and 50, by rotation of the locking shaft 29 with relation to the main shaft under action of the key 19, when moving the lock bar 16 into locking position.

Threaded into the top end of lock bar 16 as viewed in Fig. 4 is a stud bolt 56 which passes through a sleeve 57 integrally fixed to the inwardly extending flange 58 of the cup-shaped locking control member 59, the inner edge of flange 58 having sliding contact with the inner face of the door beyond the marginal edges of the anchor plate 10. Locking control member 59 ha an oblong or elon gated opening 60 in its outer wall through which extends the main shaft 1. This opening 60 in a horizontal direction, as viewed in Fig. 3, is of a width approximately that of the diameter of main shaft 1, so as to permit the main shaft to be rotated therein by either of the knobs 3 or 4. In a vertical direction however, as viewed in Fig. 4, the opening 60 is longer than in the direction at right angles thereto, so as to enable the locking control member 59 to be manually pushed upwardly by the operators fingers to release the lock bar 16 from between the lower ends of the stationary flanges 13 and 14 to enable rotation ofthe main shaft 1, and when desired, to be manually pushed downwardly to move the bottom end of the lock bar 16 into the space between the lower ends of the stationary flanges 13 and- 14 to lock the main shaft against rotation and prevent withdrawal of the latch bolt 34.

The sleeve 57 being integral with the locking control member 59, and the stud bolt 56 having a head 61 hearing against the outer face of the flange 58, it will be seen that tightening the stud bolt will rigidly fasten the lock bolt 16 and the locking control member 59 for movement together as a unit. It is thu seen that a manual push upon the locking control member 59 up or down in the direction of the stud bolt 56, or a rotation of the locking shaft 29 by the key 19, will move the lock bar 16 into position to either lock or unlock the main shaft 1 against or for rotation, depending upon the direction of move ment. As seen in Fig. 4, the height of the anchor plate is less than the cliametric distance between the inner faces of the flanges 58 in the longitudinal direction of the stud bolt 56, a sufiicient amount to permit movement of the locking control member 59 and the lock bar 16 into and out of locking position as desired, either manually or by the key. As will be understood, the anchor plate 16 has an opening through which the main shaft 1 is rotatable.

The main shaft 1, as viewed in Figs. 3 and 4, extends a distance to the left of the locking control member 59:, upon which extension the inner knob 4 is rotatably mounted, the inner end of this knob being in rotatable slidable contact with the outer face of the locking control member 59. Knob 4 extends radially inwardly over the outer end of the main shaft where it is provided with a central opening 62 having a counterbore 63 for the reception of a head 64 of a cap screw 65 threadably engaging a hole 66 centrally formed in that portion of the main shaft from its inner end to the transverse opening 26 for the lock bar 16. A cap 67 having spring fingers, is pushed into the counterbore 63 to cover the head 64 of the cap screw 65.

Before the knob 4 is secured to the main shaft 1 by the cap screw 65, a ball 68 is inserted in the hole 66, which hole decreases in diameter as it approaches the lock bar 16, its diameter at the side of the lock bar being only enough larger than the ball to permit the ball to be movable therein axially of the main shaft. The adjacent face of the lock bar 16 is formed with a pair of vertically spaced transverse circumferential grooves 69 and 70, as seen in Figs. 14 and 15, which grooves may be shorter in length than shown, if desired. Behind the ball is inserted a coil spring 71 which is held under compression against the ball by a screw plug 72 threaded to the desired position in the screw threaded hole 66. The knob 4 is then applied to the main shaft by the cap screw 65. It is thus seen that the ball 68 serve as a detent to be yieldably urged into one or the other of the grooves or depressions 69 or 70 when opposite the same, to yieldably hold the lock bar 16 in locked or unlocked position without danger of slipping out of such position until moved intentionally during operation. The ball 68 enters groove or depression 70 when the lock bar is in unlocked position, and groove or depression 69 when in locked position.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 7, the inner knob 4 at the lower portion of its inner side'where it faces the outer face of the vertical wall of the locking control member 59, is formed with a depression 73 the bottom edges of which are beveled in opposite directions from the middle to form two cam portions 74 and '75 against and over which thehead. 76 of the cam stud 77 rides when the lock bar 16 is in locked position and the inner knob 4 is rotated. Cam stud 77 is screwed into the adjacent portion of the locking control member 59 so that the head 76 projects into the depression 73 as seen in Fig. 4. When the lock bar 16 is in locked position with the detent ball 63 in depression 69, the head 76 of the cam stud 77 will be in midposition at the lowest portions of the two cam surfaces 74 and 75, as shown in Fig. 7. Rotation of theinner knob 4 a restricted amount in either direction with rela tion to the cylindrical main shaft 1, will cause one or the other of thetwo cam surfaces 74 or 75, depending upon the direction of rotation, to push upwardly against the cam stud head 76 t and move the locking control member 59 and the lock bar 16 into unlocked position.

To provide for a limited amount of rotation of the inner knob 4 in either direction, with relation to the main shaft, the main shaft is provided with two oppositely arranged depressions 78 and 79, see Fig. 7, in that portion within this knob, and the knob is provided with two complemental depressions 80 and 81 which together with the depressions 78 and 79 form two holes for the reception of two coiled compression springs 82 and 83 each bearing at one end against a shoulder member 84 on the main shaft, and at the other end against the bottom of its hole in the knob. These two coil springs are preferably of equal strength and arranged to normally hold the knob 4 and main shaft in equilibrium together, with the cam stud head 76 in midposition with relation to the cam surfaces 74- and 75 in either locked or unlocked position of the lock bar 16. Rotation of the knob 4 in either direction, for a limited amount, will compress the spring on the leading side, and simultaneously move one of the cam surfaces 74 or 75 to unlock the lock bar 16 if it is in locked position. If the turning force upon the knob is released the compressed spring will return the knob to its neutral position of equilibrium when the compression in the two springs becomes equalized. Thus, when the main shaft, through which the unlatching of the door is accomplished, has been locked from the inside by manually pushing downwardly on the locking control member 59, the door may be instantly unlocked from the inside, in case of tire or other panic, merely by grasping the inner knob and turning it in either direction. The first part of such turning movement will unlock the main shaft, and continued turning will withdraw the latch bolt 34 and permit the door to be opened.

As stated earlier herein, the key 19 may be removed from thelock cylinder either in the neutral position, or from an advanced position. This being conventional in tumbler locks, no detail description of the structure there of is necessary. When the lock bar 16 has been moved to locked position by rotation of the key 19 in counterclockwise direction as viewed looking toward the outer knob 3 from the outside, and the key returned to neu tral position and pulled out, the parts will be in the position shown in Fig. 4, at which time the eccentric pin 30, after pushing the lock bar 16 into the locked position, will be returned to an intermediate position in the notch 31 in the lock bar. This enables the locking of the main shaft by a key from the outside so that no one without the key can enter from the outside, but yet permits the door to be unlocked from the inside by either manually pushing upwardly on the locking control member 59, or by turning the inside knob 4, which latter knob turning operation both unlocks the main shaft 1 and withdraws the latch bolt 34 to enable quick opening of the door from the inside by natural movements under panic conditions. This unlocking of the main shaft by turning the inner knob, or pushing upwardly on the locking control member 59, is made possible because of thenotch 31 in the lock bar being longer and wider than the diameter of the eccentric pin 30 so that when the key 19,.

after locking by the key from the outside, is returned to neutral position and withdrawn, there is enough play between the eccentric pin 30 and the limits of the notch 31 to permit. unlocking from the inside as described above.

Provisions are also made for quickly unlocking the. main shaft and unl'atching the door from the inside, even. when locked from the outside by the key and the key This notch 85 is.

portion of the bottom wall of notch 31, during locking by the key, to push the lock bar into locked position, and when the key is withdrawn from its advanced position of rotation the notch 85 will be directly below the eccentric pin 30. This permits the lock bar 16 to be moved upwardly either by the locking control member 59, or the turning of the. inner knob 4 in either direction, even though the key 19, after locking, has been removed while in its advanced position.

It is thus seen that the door may be quickly unlocked and unlatched from the inside by simply turning the innor knob 4, when the door has been locked from the outside by the key, regardless of whether the key was removed from the lock cylinder while in the neutral position or in advanced position. The door can be unlocked from the outside by turning the key in unlocking direction which will cause the eccentric pin to contact the top wall of the notch 31 and move the lock bar upwardly into unlocked position.

The amount of turning movement of the main shaft 1 by either of the knobs, for unlatching purposes, is limited in one direction by the top of the lock bar 16 and/ or the sleeve 57 striking the top end of stationary flange 14, and in the opposite direction by striking the top end of stationary flange 13.

The extreme projected position of the latch bolt 34 is limited by the head of the screw bolt 44 contacting the inner face of the latch edge of the door, and by the edges 47 and 48 of the latch bolt plate 45 contacting the rollback noses 23 and 24. As will be understood, rotation of either the inner or outer knob in either direction will, through rotation of the main shaft 1, cause one or the other of the roll-back noses 23 and 24 to push rearwardly against the complemental shoulder 47 or 48 of the latch bolt plate 45, depending upon the direction of rotation of the knob, and withdraw the latch bolt to permit opening of the door. When the knob is released the springs 43 will return the latch bolt to projected position.

Also when the door is closed, and the key 19 is rotated to lock the door from the outside, the locking shaft 29 will be rotated to move the lock bar into locked position. This causes the web 55 of the locking shaft to rotate and carry its thinner nose portion against one of the latch-lock shoulders 49 and 50 of the latch bolt plate 45, as seen in Fig. 9. The key is then removed from the lock cylinder in its advanced position to hold it there. The latch bolt plate is thus prevented from being moved inwardly, which in turn makes it impossible for any one to move the latch bolt inwardly by applying a thin piece of material in the crack between the edge of the door and the frame. When the door is unlocked by the key from the outside, the web of the locking shaft 29 will occupy the position shown in Fig. 6, which position it will also occupy when the door is locked by the key and the key removed from the lock cylinder in its neutral position.

In Fig. 17 is shown a striker plate 86 adapted to be mounted on the edge face of the door frame in such position that after the nose of the latch bolt has wiped over the contact face 87 of the striker plate during closing of the door, which movement will move the latch bolt inwardly, the nose portion of the latch bolt will be moved into the hole 88 in the striker plate under action of the springs 43 to hold the door latched shut. The striker plate has formed therein two parallel slots 89 and 90, one above the hole 88 andone therebelow, each of these slots being inclined at an angle as seen in Fig. 17. Extending through each of these angular slots is a headed screw 91 which is screwed into the edge face of the door frame to hold the striker plate in position thereon, the heads of these screws being arranged to permit the edge of the door to freely pass thereover as the door is being closed.

As is well known in hanging doors, unless the striker plate is positioned on the .door frame absolutely perfectly with relation to the edge 93 of the latch bolt, or if the door during its lifetime should warp even a small amount, the edge 92 of the hole 88, see Fig. 17, in the striker plate would either prevent the edge 93 of the latch bolt from clearing it to permit the latch bolt to enter the hole 88, or there would be a gap 94 between these two edges that would permit rattling of the door with relation to the striker plate. To rectify such undesirable results, should they occur at any time during the lifetime of the door, all that is necessary is to move the striker plate of the present invention downwardly a sufficient amount to bring the edge 92 into contact with the edge 93 to eliminate rattling, if prior thereto a gap 94 had existed, or to move the striker plate upwardly a sufficient amount to bring the latch bolt nose into proper registry with the hole in. the striker plate, if prior thereto the latch bolt did not freely enter the hole in the striker plate when the door was in closed position. This up or down sliding movement of the striker plate is accompanied by an in or out edgewise movement of the striker plate, because of the parallel angular arrangement of the slots 89 and as they move along the screws 91. As seen in Fig. 17, the hole 88 in the striker plate is enough longer in a vertical direction than the height of the latch bolt nose to permit such movement.

The screws 91 may be just tight enough with relation to the slots 89 and 90 to enable up or down movement of the striker plate by lightly tapping with a hammer or the like against the projecting portion of the striker plate while the door is in closed position. Or, if preferred, the screws 91 may be slightly loosened While the door is open, to permit the desired adjustment, after which the screws may again be tightened. Also, the degree of tightness of the screws 91 with relation to the slots, may be such as to enable the up or down movement of the striker plate by the operators fingers, if desired.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. Latching mechanism for a door and the like, comprising, a rotatable main shaft having a transverse opening therethrough, a lock bar slidably mounted in said opening, a manually operable locking control member fixed to said lock bar for moving the lock bar, a stationary member having an opening into which the lock bar may be moved for locking the main shaft against rotation, a first turning member fixed to the outer end portion of the main shaft, latching mechanism operable by rotation of the main shaft,

21 second turning member mounted on the inner end portion of the main shaft for limited rotation with relation thereto, and connections between the second turning member and said locking control member for moving the lock bar out of the opening in the stationary member upon a partial rotation of the second turning member with relation to the main shaft, and for rotating the main shaft upon a further rotation of the second turning member for operating the latching mechanism.

2. Latching mechanism, comprising, a rotatable main shaft having a transverse opening therethrough, a lock bar slidably mounted in said opening, a manually operable locking control member fixed to said lock bar for moving the lock bar, a stationary member having an opening into which the lock bar may be moved for locking the main shaft against rotation, a first turning member fixed to the outer end portion of the main shaft, latching mechanism operable by rotation of the main shaft, a second turning member mounted on the inner end portion of the main shaft for limited rotation with relation thereto, connections between the second turning member and said locking control member for moving the lock bar out of the opening in the stationary member upon a partial rotation of the second turning member with relation to the main shaft, and for rotating the main shaft upon a further rotation of the second turning member for operating the latching mechanism, and spring means between the main shaft and said second turning member for returning the second turning member into neutral position with relation to the i 9- main shaft when the turning, force is removed. from. said second turning member..

3. Latching mechanism, comprising, a rotatable main shaft having a transverse opening therethrough, a lock bar slidably mounted in said opening, a. manually operable locking control member fixed to said lock bar for moving the lock bar, a stationary member having an opening into which the lock bar may be moved for locking the main shaft against rotation, afirst. turning member fixed to the outer end portion of the mainv shaft, latching mechanism operable by rotation: of the mainshaft, a second turning member mounted on the inner end portion of the main shaft for limited rotation with relation thereto, and connections between thesecond turning member and said locking controlmember for moving the lock barout of the opening in the stationary member upon a partial rotation of the second turning member. with relation. to the main shaft, and for rotating the. main; shaft upon a further rotation of the second turning member. for operating the latching mechanism, said. connections between. the second turning member andthelocking, control member including a cam surface on the second: turning member and a projection on the locking control member against which. projection the cam surface slideswhen the lockbar is in locked position and the second. turninggmember'isi turned said partial rotation with relation tothe main shaft.

4. Latching. mechanism, comprising, a rotatable main shaft having an opening extending axially partway therethrough and a transverse opening connecting with the axial opening, a locking shaft rotatably mounted in said axial opening, a lock bar slidably mounted in the transverse opening and having connection with the locking shaft for movement of the lock bar by rotation ofthe locking shaft, a stationary member for receiving an end of the lock bar for locking the main shaft against. rotation upon movement of the lock bar in one direction, said main shaft having fixedv upon one end a turning member for-rotating the main shaft and upon its other end a. turning member, and connections between the second mentioned. turning member and the lock bar that upon a partial turning of the second mentioned turning member the main shaft will remain still and the lock bar will be released from said stationary member to free the mainsliaft for rotation, and upon further. turning of the second mentioned turning member the main shaft willlie rotated, whereby when the lock bar is in locked position it may be moved to unlocked position by selectively rotating the locking shaft with relation to the main shaft or by rotating the second mentioned turning member.

5. Latching mechanism for a door and the like, comprising, a rotatable main shaft having an axially extending bore therein open at one end, a locking shaft rotatably mounted in said bore, said main shaft having a transverse opening in communication with said bore, a lock bar slidably mounted in the transverse opening, a stationary member adapted to be fixed to the inner face of a door, said stationary member having an opening adapted to receive the lock bar, an outer turning member fixed to said main shaft, an inner turning member mounted on the main shaft for limited rotation with relation thereto, means connecting the locking shaft with the lock bar for moving the lock bar into and out of the opening in the stationary member upon rotation of the locking shaft, a key-operated tumbler lock in the outer end of the main shaft bore for locking and unlocking the door from the outside through rotation of the locking shaft by turning of the key, a locking control member fixed to the lock bar for unitary movement therewith, and means connecting the inner turning member with said locking control member for moving the lock bar to unlocked position by rotation of the inner turning member with relation to the main shaft.

6. Latching mechanism for a door and the like, comprising, a rotatable main shaft having an axial bore and a transverse opening, a lock bar slidable in the transverse 10 opening, a locking shaft and a key-operated. tumbler lock in said bore, an outer turning member fixed to the main shaft, an inner turning, member mounted on the main shaft for limited rotation with relation thereto, a stationary member adapted to be fixed to the inner face of a door and having an opening for receiving an end of the lock bar, said main shaft having a cut-away portion forming two oppositely positioned roll-back noses, a spring biased latch bolt having a latch bolt plate fixed thereto formed with an opening having a pair of shoulder edges respectively adjacent said roll-back noses for retracting the latch bolt upon rotation of the main shaft in either direction, a locking control member fixed to said lock bar to move as a unit therewith and positioned closely adjacent said inner turning member, a projection on one of said locking control member and inner turning memher and a pair of cam surfaces on the other, whereby the main shaft may be locked against rotation by a key from the outside of the door, and the main shaft may be unlockedfor rotation from the inside by turning the inner turning member a limited amount in either direction with relation to the main shaft, and further rotation of. the inner turning member will rotate the :main shaft and withdraw the latch bolt.

7. Latching mechanism fora door and the like, comprising, a rotatable main shaft having an axial bore and a transverse opening, a lock bar slidable' in said transverse opening, a stationary member into which the lock bar may be locked, a locking shaft rotatably mounted in said bore and connected for sliding the lock bar, a key-operated tumbler lock for operating the locking shaft,

a spring biased latch bolt having a latch bolt plate fixedthereto formed with an opening through which the main shaft extends, and connections between the latch bolt plate and the locking shaft for preventing movement of the latch bolt inwardly by a thin piece of material inserted in the crack between the door and frame when the lock bar has been moved into lock position by a key from the outside and the key removed from the tumbler lock in advanced position.

8. Latching mechanism for a door and the like, comprising, a rotatable main shaft having an axial bore and a transverse opening, a lock bar slidable in said transverse opening, a stationary member into which the lock bar may be locked, a locking shaft rotatably mounted in said bore and connected for sliding the lock bar, a key-open ated tumbler lock for operating the locking shaft, a latch bolt having a latch bolt plate fixed thereto formed with an opening through which the main shaft extends, a rollback nose on said main shaft for moving the latch bolt inwardly upon rotation of the main shaft, spring means for normally urging the latch bolt into projected position, and a shoulder on the latch bolt plate against which a portion of the locking shaft contacts and prevents movement of the latch bolt inwardly by a thin piece of material inserted in the crack between the door and frame when the lock bar has been moved into locked position by a key from the outside and the key removed from the tumbler lock in advanced position.

9. Latching mechanism for a door and the like, com prising, a rotatable main shaft having an axial bore and a transverse opening, a lock bar slidably mounted in said transverse opening, a locking shaft rotatably mounted in said bore and having connection with said lock bar for sliding the same into and out of locking position upon rotation of the locking shaft, a key-operated tumbler lock in the outer end of said bore and having connections for rotating the locking shaft upon turning of the tumbler lock by a key, a stationary member adapted to be fixed to the inner face of a door and having an opening for receiving the lock bar and lock the main shaft against rotation, the main shaft having a cut-away portion forming two oppositely positioned roll-back noses, the locking shaft having a reduced thickness forming a web rotatably swingable in said cut-away portion, a spring biased latch bolt having a latch bolt plate fixed thereto formedwith an opening through which the main shaft extends at its cut-away portion, said latch bolt plate having a pair of shoulder edges respectively adjacent said roll-back noses for withdrawing the latch bolt upon rotation of the main shaft, said latch bolt plate also having a recess within which a portion of said web of the locking shaft swings, said latch bolt plate having a latch-lock shoulder at one end of said recess against which said web contacts when the key is rotated to move the lock bar into locked position and the key removed in advanced position, to prevent any one from moving the latch bolt inwardly by a thin piece of material inserted in the crack between the door and frame.

10. Latching mechanism for a door and the like, comprising, a main shaft having an axial bore, a locking shaft rotatably mounted in the bore of the main shaft, a stationary member adapted to be fixed to a door, a lock bar transversely slidable in the main shaft and movable into locking engagement with the stationary member by rotation of the locking shaft, a spring biased latch bolt having an extension extending beyond the main shaft, a keyoperated tumbler lock in the outer end of said bore and having connection for rotating the locking shaft with relation to the main shaft by a key, and means on said extension and locking shaft which when in engagement will prevent movement of the latch bolt inwardly by a thin piece of material inserted in the crack between the door and frame when the key is removed from the tumbler lock in advanced position.

11. Latching mechanism for a door and the like, comprising, a main shaft having an axial bore, a locking shaft rotatably mounted in the bore of the main shaft, a stationary member adapted to be fixed to a door, a lock bar transversely slidable in the main shaft and movable into locking engagement with the stationary member by rotation of the locking shaft, a spring biased latch bolt having an inwardly extending latch bolt plate fixed thereto, a key-operated tumbler lock in the outer end of said bore and having connection for rotating the locking shaft with relation to the main shaft by a key, said plate having an elongated opening through which the main shaft extends, the main shaft having a cut-away portion forming a pair of opposite roll-back noses, said plate having a pair of shoulders adjacent said noses for withdrawing the latch bolt upon rotation of the main shaft in either direction, said plate also havinga latch-lock shoulder against which a portion of the locking shaft engages when the locking shaft is rotated, whereby to prevent inward movement of the latch bolt by a thin piece of material inserted in the crack between the door and door frame when the key is removed from the tumbler lock in advanced position.

12. Latching mechanism for a door and the like, comprising, a rotatable main shaft having an axial bore and a transverse opening, a lock bar slidable in said transverse opening, a stationary member into which-the lock bar may be moved to lock the main shaft against rotation, a locking shaft rotatably mounted in said bore, a key-operated tumbler lock for operating the locking shaft by turning a key in the lock from the outside of the door, an inner turning member mounted on the inner end portion of the main shaft for limited rotation with relation thereto, said lock bar having a recess in one side and said locking shaft on its inner end having an eccentric pin positioned within said recess, the bottom wall of said recess having a notch, said inner turning member having connection with the lock bar for moving the lock bar from locked to unlocked position upon partial rotation of the inner turning member with relation to the main shaft, the notch in the bottom wall of said recess in the lock bar enabling such latter mentioned movement when the lock bar had been moved into locked position by a key from the outside and the key removed from the lock in advanced position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,424,686 Somers Aug. 1, 1922 1.916,266 Hillgren et al July 4, 1933 1,923,149 Hughes Aug. 22, 1933 2,401,854 Berry June 11, 1946- 2,503,192 Cerf Apr. 12, 1950 2,665,154 Hagstrom Jan. 5, 1954 2,733,945 North Feb. 7, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 421,384 Great Britain Dec. 19, 1934 505,236 Great Britain May 8, 1939 599,209 France Oct. 13, 1925 

